ECTS Mike Horton Award
Nominations period: nominations will open in September 2026
Professor Mike Horton (1948-2010) was a hematologist-turned-basic scientist who made significant contributions in the bone field and beyond. He performed pioneering work in osteoclast biology which resulted, among other things, in the recognition of the alpha v beta 3 integrin as a therapeutic target for inhibiting bone resorption. His warm personality and wide-ranging interests inspired many young researchers.
The award is for €1000 (Euros) and is announced during the ECTS annual congress.
Eligibility
The ECTS Mike Horton Award is open to individuals who have made a significant basic or translational contribution to the field of bone and calcified tissue.
ECTS Board members are not eligible to this award during term of office in the ECTS Board.
To be eligible you must be a current member of ECTS.
The scientific profile of the candidate is the most important parameter that is evaluated.
In addition, number of years spent as member of ECTS and positions held inside the Society can also be considered.
Winners must wait five years before applying for another named award.
Submission Procedure
Nominations will open in September 2026
Nominees must be nominated and seconded by ECTS members.
Nominations should be submitted via the online form.
Review Procedure
All nominations are reviewed by an independent panel of reviewers. The final decision is based on the marks and comments from the reviewers and any conflicts of interest are identified and dealt with appropriately.
Winner of the 2026 Mike Horton Award
Congratulations to Professor Geert Carmeliet, Ku Leuven, Netherlands, recipient of the 2026 Mike Horton Award presented during the ECTS 2026 Congress in Girona.
For a full list of previous Award recipients, please visit the Previous Grants section.
Geert Carmeliet is a medical doctor specialized in pediatrics who obtained her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from theUniversity of Leuven (Belgium). In 1995, she chose to pursue an academic career and was appointed Professor of Medicine inthe Division of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology at KU Leuven, where she later became Chair of the division.
She was among the first researchers to investigate bone vascularization and hypoxic factors and made significantcontributions to understanding the role of vitamin D in bone homeostasis. Moreover, she pioneered studies on bone cellmetabolism, establishing herself as a leading figure in the field and authoring several high-impact publications.
Throughout her career, Geert Carmeliet has been deeply involved in the training and education of medical students and hassupervised numerous PhD candidates. She is a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, serves on the FWOExpert Panel, and has previously been a member of the Scientific Research Council at KU Leuven. She is also a frequentinvited speaker at major international conferences, including the Gordon Research Conferences, Keystone Symposia, andASBMR. In addition, she successfully served as Treasurer of the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) for three years.
Geert Carmelier had an exemplary scientific career, paving the way for numerous innovative research avenues for the youngresearchers she supervised. She made a significant contribution to the life of the society.
